Forced To Run After Coach’s Intervention Julien Alfred Clears Air Over Track and Field Plans

Julien Alfred is just unstoppable! And for obvious reasons. The sprinter became her country’s first Olympian after winning the gold in the 100 meters. She followed this up by being crowned the highest-paid female athlete in 2024. But she is not satisfied yet. She’s out here proving why she’s still one to watch in 2025. She appeared for the New Balance Grand Prix in Boston on February 2nd and shocked fans by appearing not at her patented 100m or 200m. But rather the 300 m indoors. And guess what?

It paid off. Julien Alfred smoked the 300m with a time of 36.16 seconds, way ahead of Dina Asher-Smith, who clocked 36.87. Julien’s reaction? Classic: “You know, he has a plan. I’m just following his plan. Even though it hurts a lot, I trust him and what he has for me.” She’s fully on board with what her coach, Edrick Floreal, has in store for her. But, here’s the thing: Julien’s never been a fan of the 200m, the distance where she won silver at the Paris Olympics.

But Coach Floreal is pushing her to embrace new challenges, hoping that focusing on events like the 300m will help her build a more positive attitude towards longer distances. He knows she’s got the skill and the mindset to take on even bigger challenges. It looks like this coaching strategy is setting her up for even more success down the road! And it did!

After the race, when she was asked about running the 300 m, she was pretty chill about it. “It was something, lol,” she laughed. “But in all honesty, like my coach and I have been working really hard. We are working on my strength and speed endurance as well.”

She also spilled some tea about her plans for the rest of the indoor season: “So most of the indoor will be 300m… 400m indoors. But, you know, I’m just going according to what he has planned for me and God. That means something crazy is going to happen outside, I’m hoping. Looking forward to working with my coach to get that done.” If that’s not exciting, then you don’t know what is. 2025 is about to be wild for Julien! But Julien Alfred knows his coach very well and trusts him!

Julien Alfred’s road to becoming the fastest woman in the world

Julien Alfred’s success story is a perfect example of how hard work, trust, and a great coach can take you to the top. She and her coach have been working together since 2019. And honestly, you can see the growth in both of them. Julien’s always been quick to give credit to Floreal, calling him her “spine and rock.” She’s shared before how he’s been there for her through everything, especially the tough times.

After her near-miss at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, she leaned on him, crying on his shoulder, but he never let her give up. “He has been with me through the highs and the lows,” she said. “I just want to thank him for having my back.” But let’s talk about how far Julien has come. Her rise started back in 2017 when she made waves by winning the 100m at the Commonwealth Youth Games. A year later, she took home a silver medal at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.

Her career started moving rapidly from that moment forward. Julien reached new peaks at the University of Texas. She received two NCAA titles for the 100m along with one title for the 4x100m in 2022. And if that wasn’t enough, she followed this with 2 more titles in 2023. This time in 60m and 200m. But she reached her pinnacle at the 2024 Olympics. In the city of love, she became the first Olympic from her nation and won the gold in 100m. And the best part? She beat her biggest Sha’Carrrri Richardson for it.

Julien Alfred also grabbed a silver in the 200m and a win at the Diamond League 100m in Brussels, just days later. “I really wanted it for myself, but most importantly, my coach is everything to me, and I would not be here without him,” Julien said after her big win. Floreal stood beside his daughter throughout challenges in her athletic career as well as during her Olympic triumphs while providing constant guidance at every turn. At 23, Alfred has plenty of success still ahead of her because Coach Floreal remains by her side.